Student Worksheet

Lesson: Reading Graphs with a Logarithmic Scale

Carefully observe the x-axis of the above graph, “Concentration
of Atomic Oxygen in the Thermosphere”– notice the exponents.
These numbers are an abbreviated format used for scientific notation.
An example would be: 102 = 1 x 102 = 10 x 10 = 100. In the table below,
indicate the actual number represented by the scientific notation.

Scientific
Notation

102

104

106

108

1010

Actual
Number

100

Study the actual numbers along the x-axis.
Do they
increase in equal intervals? __________
Is there a pattern to how
the x-axis numbers increase? ___________
Explain the pattern that you
observe.

The x-axis is a logarithmic scale, which means that each number is
ten times greater than the one before it. An example would be:

These numbers would all be placed along the x-axis between
102 and 103.
(Notice that numbers after the decimal point display a consistent
pattern. For example 1.78, 2.78, 3.78, 4.78, etc. will all have a ‘6’ as
the first digit – 60, 600, 6000, and 60,000 respectively. The number
before the decimal indicates how many places are present after the first
digit. For example, 1.78 would start with a ‘6’ and be followed
by one place = 60. Or 3.78 would start with a ‘6’ and be followed
by three places = 6000.)

Now you try it. For the following logarithm functions of actual numbers,
give the logarithm number. Try it first WITHOUT using a calculator, and
then check your work using a calculator.

log (1000) =

log (6000) =

log (2000) =

log (7000) =

log (3000) =

log (8000) =

log (4000) =

log (9000) =

log (5000) =

These numbers would all be placed along the x-axis between
10
and 10 .

On the axis below, complete the scale by placing the scientific notation
numbers in the top boxes and the actual numbers in the bottom boxes.

Refer to the graph, “Concentration of Atomic Oxygen in
the Thermosphere” as you complete the following data table.

Height (km) /
(% Concentration)

Particle Density (cm-3) of
Atomic Oxygen (green line)

100 / ( 4%)

200 / (55%)

300 / (79%)

400 / (91%)

500 / (96%)

Using the above data, describe in some detail how the concentration
of atomic oxygen in the Earth’s thermosphere changes with height.
Be sure to include actual and/or logarithmic numbers in your description.

Consider this: As you go higher in the thermosphere from 100 km to
500 km, the percentage of atomic oxygen increases from 4% to 96%, but
the concentration of particle density per cubic centimeter decreases.
Why do you think this happens?

You will need to keep this spacing of a logarithmic scale in mind as
you complete data tables in two other lessons: "Graphs and the Composition
of Earth’s Thermosphere" and "Graphs and the Composition
of Earth’s Ionosphere".